Roots in the past, branches into the future: Greece joins the olive elite

«Greece fortifies the future of olives with an international distinction» 

The National Olive Variety Collection, at the Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture (IOSV) of ELGO – DIMITRA in Chania, has recently received official recognition as an International Olive Germplasm Collection by the International Olive Council (IOC). This distinction places Greece among the seven countries worldwide that host officially recognized international collections. The collection comprises more than 100 olive varieties, both Greek and foreign, which are preserved across seven fields in three different regions of Chania. Among them, 64 have already registered in the National Catalogue of Cultivated Plant Varieties. 

This recognition, the result of dedication, years of research, and international evaluation, significantly enhances the global visibility of ELGO–DIMITRA and IOSV. Furthermore, it paves the way for new collaborations foresting research, training, and the advancement of Greek olive cultivation.